Woman Proves Lake Erie Is More Dangerous Than Atlantic Ocean

Katie Spotz completed her solo trans-Atlantic row yesterday, rowing the final leg into Georgetown Guyana herself only after going an extra 400 miles out of her way to avoid rough currents. Katie Spotz, in case you have not already figured it out, is a far tougher person than you will ever be.

Spotz completed the relatively smooth crossing despite failing in her previous epic rowing foray, a 40 mile trip across Lake Erie.

Before leaving for Senegal, her biggest boating experience consisted of a 40-mile practice row on Lake Erie that ended with her boat being pinned against a cliff by wind and waves. The boat was nearly destroyed. Many people asked Spotz how she could row across the Atlantic if she could not even row on Lake Erie.

The answers are simple: the Atlantic is not constantly on fire, and the biggest danger in rowing is not rough seas but rather the shore, where many rowers are dashed against the rocks in the final leg of their journey. Spotz raised $70,000 for the Blue Planet Run Foundation along the way, which is nice because you didn’t already feel bad enough about yourself after reading this.